Transalpina and the monasteries of Oltenia
Down the Olt gorge to Cozia and Horezu monasteries, then over the Transalpina, Romania’s highest road, to the citadel of Alba Iulia.
- Distance
- 271 km (169 mi)
- Driving
- 3 h 45 min
- Suggested days
- 4
- Stops
- 8
- Countries
- Romania
- Updated
- June 5, 2026
At a glance: 4-day road trip of about 271 km (169 mi) with 8 stops, from Sibiu to Alba Iulia. About 3 h 45 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Romania
Route description
Leave Sibiu south on the DN7 through the Olt valley, where the river cuts a narrow gorge through the Carpathians. The road is the main route to Bucharest and carries heavy trucks, so take it steadily. After about 90 km, Cozia Monastery stands by the river near Călimănești, founded in 1388 by Mircea the Elder, with frescoes inside its small church.
Turn west at Râmnicu Vâlcea onto the DN67 along the foot of the mountains to Horezu, about 45 km. Horezu Monastery, built by Prince Constantin Brâncoveanu from 1690 and listed by UNESCO, is the model of the Brâncovenesc style, with carved stone porches and painted walls. Horezu town is known for its pottery. Continue west to Polovragi, where a cave opens at the mouth of the Olteț gorge.
Novaci, about 20 km further west, is the southern start of the Transalpina, the DN67C, which climbs through the Rânca resort to about 2,145 metres at the Urdele Pass, the highest paved road in Romania. It then crosses the high grassland of the Parâng and descends past Obârșia Lotrului and Lake Oașa through forest to Șugag and Sebeș, about 150 km of mountain driving in total.
The Transalpina is usually open only from early summer to autumn and can close at short notice for snow or fog; check before you set off. There are few services on top, so fill up in Novaci. From Sebeș it is 15 km to Alba Iulia, whose star-shaped Alba Carolina citadel holds cathedrals and museums. Sibiu is 70 km back east on the A1 motorway.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Sibiu
Romania - 276 km
Cozia Monastery
HistoryCălimănești, RomaniaA monastery founded in 1388 by Mircea the Elder on the bank of the Olt in its narrow gorge through the Carpathians. The church has fine frescoes; there is a small car park by the main road.
- 336 km
Horezu Monastery
HistoryHorezu, RomaniaThe finest example of the Brâncovenesc style, founded by Prince Constantin Brâncoveanu in 1690 and listed by UNESCO. Dress modestly; in Horezu town nearby, potters sell the region’s distinctive painted ceramics.
- 423 km
Polovragi Cave
NaturePolovragi, RomaniaA limestone cave at the mouth of the Olteț gorge, visited on short guided tours along lit passages. The Polovragi Monastery stands at the gorge entrance; the forest road into the gorge is narrow.
- 511 km
Novaci
Romania - 634 km
Transalpina, Urdele Pass
ViewsNovaci, RomaniaThe highest point of the Transalpina road (DN67C), at about 2,145 metres in the Parâng mountains, the highest paved road in Romania. Open only in summer; bring warm clothes, and expect fog and grazing sheep on the road.
- 791 km
Alba Carolina Citadel
HistoryAlba Iulia, RomaniaA large star-shaped Habsburg fortress with carved gates, cathedrals and museums, where the union of Transylvania with Romania was declared in 1918. Walk the ramparts; a guard-changing ceremony takes place at midday in season.
- 80 km
Alba Iulia
Romania
FAQs
How long is Transalpina and the monasteries of Oltenia?
4-day road trip of about 271 km (169 mi) with 8 stops, from Sibiu to Alba Iulia. About 3 h 45 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Transalpina and the monasteries of Oltenia?
We suggest 4 days: about 3 h 45 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Transalpina and the monasteries of Oltenia start and end?
It starts in Sibiu and ends in Alba Iulia.
Which countries does Transalpina and the monasteries of Oltenia pass through?
Romania.
